Table of contents for 27 August 2024 in Bella

Stars, ready? Less than a year since hit '90s series Gladiators was rebooted by the BBC, a group of famous faces are preparing to take on the ultimate challenge of strength, speed and determination. Donning the lycra, they'll be going head to head with the fearsome Gladiators for a one-off celebrity special. Four stars will be up against Sabre, Nitro and co – including comedians Joel Dommett, 39, Rob Beckett, 38, and Ellie Taylor, 40. Joining them will be former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin, 55, whose background as a triathlete might just give her an advantage against the fearsome Gladiators. And it sounds like the celebs are up to – if slightly scared by – the challenge. Rob joked that the experience would be one of “catastrophic humiliation”, adding,…

The news of her divorce from Eamonn Holmes shocked the country, and now Ruth Langsford is ready to rid her home of all signs of her estranged husband and their 14-year marriage. After weeks of living in limbo – and with Eamonn, 64, potentially in a new relationship – Ruth, also 64, is ready to move on. Insiders have told Bella she's asked Eamonn to collect his things from their £3.25m Surrey mansion. 'She wants a clean slate' “Ruth doesn't want constant reminders of Eamonn lying about the house and has told him she wants him to pack up his belongings and move out,” the source says. “Ruth doesn't want him to feel like he can pop back and forth when he likes to grab bits, she wants a clean…

Alex Jones is having the time of her life. The 47-year-old presenter is one of the go-to anchors on the BBC, having hosted The One Show for an incredible 14 years. Her kind, Welsh lilt and inquisitive mind make her the perfect frontwoman for the long-running magazine show – and she has no plans to leave anytime soon. But it's at home, with her husband of nine years Charlie Thomson – and their three children Teddy, seven, Kit, five, and Annie, three – that she is truly happy. We caught up with the bubbly star to talk about what still drives her and how much she craves home time. You've been on The One Show for 14 years. Do you still enjoy it? I can't even believe I'm still there.…

I'd always struggled with my weight. Ever since I was in my 20s, I'd watched my weight yo-yo up and down. I'd tried different diets, but then I'd have a bad day and give up. As I got older, I got a bit more comfortable in my skin and by the time I'd reached my late 40s, I was happy at 14 stone. Then aged 48, I'd met Alan, 52, at a party. He was kind and caring and he made me feel beautiful. “I love your curves,” Alan would say, grabbing hold of my hips and spinning me round for a smooch. We'd clicked straight away and within four months of us being together, in December 2012, Alan popped the question. “Let's go to Jamaica and get married on…

beauty secrets Treat & Grow If you feel like your hair is getting thinner, then you're not alone. Nioxin's trichologist, Mark Blake, explains, “When a woman goes through the menopause, levels of oestrogen and progesterone tend to fall. Oestrogen and progesterone are hormones that hair really likes, and the reduction of these hormones can also mean that hair becomes finer, fragile and can break easily.” Battle hair loss by introducing a growthboosting routine, with a focus on ingredients like biotin or caffeine, which are known for their thickening results. Be patient, as it could take at least 30 days to start seeing results. Care & Repair In addition to hormonal changes, everyday styling and regular colouring can cause some serious damage to your hair, resulting in limp, lifeless locks. This…

Workspace hack: Design a fun memo board with a simple square of paint and clipboards. It's easy to do and a great way to keep letters and notes in the right place. Lick Green 08 and Yellow 02 Emulsion Paint, £45 per litre, Lick. Bedroom refresh: Treat yourself to new sheets, a decorative bedspread, stylish scatter cushions or a new duvet set to enhance bedtime. Folk Floral Bedding Sets, from £12 each; Cushions, £10 each all Matalan. Simple swaps: Pretty vases grouped together are an instant hit, even before you add flowers. Ceramic Bud Vases, £25 for three, John Lewis. Magic mirrors: A hand-woven mirror will give your room depth. Buy one or two and display as a group or mix in with some prints for a fun wall effect.…

Sarah Jessica Parker On the set of And Just Like That, SJP donned an effortlessly chic Maison Margiela jean skirt, a long-sleeved top and a pair of patent pumps. Golda Rosheuvel The Bridgerton star's Erdem coat was the talk of the Ton at this year's Wimbledon. She's our diamond of the season. Katy Perry While out in London, the Roar singer paired her dark-wash jacket and jeans with blacked-out sunnies. Effortlessly cool. Ashley Roberts The radio DJ posed on her walk to work in a Michael Kors button-down dress with slinky chain straps. Denim dream. Vick Hope We adore the presenter's polished mini dress and sandal combo. Her glowing make-up and relaxed ponytail truly complete the look. Blake Lively The A-lister sported a Chanel co-ord while out and about promoting…

bella debate No Rachel Tompkins, 44, writer 'It's time for them to reset' By the time the end of every school term comes around my two boys, who are 11 and eight, are utterly exhausted. Not just with the school day itself; there's the homework, the after school clubs, the parties, the sports matches. It really is a never-ending whirlwind of activities. “You do too much!” my dad always tells me, as he watches us race out the door to yet another commitment. And there are times when I do worry that he could be right, about the children burning out. So, by the time the school holidays come around, the time off is very much needed in our house. Of course, I take them on day trips, but for…

1 Know your limits So many of us underestimate the amount food and drinks we have by between 20-50 per cent – particularly carb-rich foods, which can be very moreish. “Excess carbs – especially in the form of processed foods and hidden and added sugars – can be why you're battling to lose weight and keep it off. If you are not burning off the carbs and sugars, then they'll be converted to glucose and fat,” says Health Coach Tim Allardyce (Surreyphysio.co.uk). The digestive process for carbs takes quite a lot of energy and can make you feel tired (think how sleepy you can feel after a stodgy sandwich lunch) – this can be the reason for those pesky mid-afternoon munchies! Try an app like MyFitness Pal or Nutracheck to…

Baring all for love Dating Naked UK, Friday 23 August, Paramount+ Ten singletons look for love while living together in a tropical paradise – all while totally nude. Rylan (with his clothes firmly on) oversees proceedings as the residents of the Dating Naked house spend their time dating and partying in nothing but their birthday suits. As friendships form and flirtations get underway, new arrivals arrive to change the group dynamics. And with each episode concluding at the Dumping Ground where Rylan says laters to the losing daters, no one wants to be sent packing. COOKING UP A STORM Celebrity MasterChef, Tuesday 20 August, BBC1 Entering the MasterChef arena for the second week of heats are Gladiator and Team GB sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, ex-EastEnders star Danielle Harold, comedian Eshaan Akbar, actor…

TV interview We know her best for being a ballroom and Latin American pro on Strictly Come Dancing since 2017, but in May last year, Amy Dowden hit headlines when she revealed she'd been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Since then she's had a gruelling six months of chemotherapy, but is happy to say she's now cancer free and ready to return to the Strictly ballroom. Here, the 34-year-old Welsh star tells us about her new documentary, Fight Of My Life, that follows her on the journey through treatment and onto the road of recovery… Why did you want to make this documentary? I never thought I would ever be diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. I only came across it because I was checking myself. If…

Staring out at the clouds, I smiled. It was September 2022 and my husband, Pearse, and I were on our way to Las Vegas for the holiday of a lifetime to celebrate Pearse's 40th and our 10th wedding anniversary. But a while into the flight, I felt pressure building in my head and got up to look for a glass of water. “What's wrong?” Pearse asked. “I feel really faint,” I mumbled. Suddenly, everything went black. Coming around, I could hear people talking, but still couldn't see. “Have some oxygen,” a flight attendant said, positioning the mask over my mouth. Slowly, my vision returned, and the overwhelming pressure disappeared. Downplaying my fainting episode, I focused on enjoying the holiday. We had a wonderful break, attending a pool party for Pearse's…

better health Doctors and trichologists have noted increased numbers of patients who are suffering hair loss. Researchers believe the pandemic could be to blame. Studies have shown that people with a history of Covid-19 infection are four times as likely to develop hair loss than those who were not infected. We also know that 22 per cent of those who were hospitalised with the illness experienced temporary hair loss. Why we are shedding “The post-Covid increase in hair shedding is something I've seen,” confirms trichologist Hannah Gabourdi of The Hair Growth Clinic (hannahgaboardi.com). “The increase in hair loss is mostly diffuse, meaning the thinning is uniform across the scalp. When your body fights a virus you get a high temperature, it triggers a process called telogen effluvium, which causes changes…

My phone buzzed with a dating app notification and when I saw who it was from, I smiled. “I didn't mean to ghost you, promise!” it read. I'd matched with Kerry on a dating app a few weeks ago in January 2017 while we were both travelling around New Zealand. Our first date went so well that we discussed meeting up again later in our travels, but when I'd messaged Kerry to arrange it, she hadn't responded. It turned out, she'd deleted the app we'd been communicating through and hadn't seen my message until now. It turned out, Kerry was now back home in Weymouth, Dorset, but we kept messaging while I finished the last few weeks of my travels. Then, when I moved back to the UK, we decided…

escapes Caribbean cuisine With all-inclusive dining, Azul guests will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink. There are nine restaurants and nine bars on-site, all offering a mix of international and local cuisine, so you'll never have to have the same thing twice. Our favourite place to eat was Ackee – a sea-view restaurant serving up traditional Jamaican fare. Named after Jamaica's national dish of ackee and saltfish (a dish you have to try!), we particularly loved their jerk pork and curried goat. Those who want a mix of everything will enjoy the Mahogany restaurant where food is served buffet-style. A visit to Mahogany's pasta bar is a must, but make sure to place your order with the chef before getting the rest of your food…